McCarthy, the Christian Brothers Academy and Le Moyne College graduate, wedged in one last look at Pebble Beach Golf Links on a late California Wednesday afternoon. He walked the front nine by himself. Since he introduced himself to the golf course some four days earlier, he said, the grounds had grown firmer, the rough taller and more tangled.

“I’ve been trying to hit a lot of chips, a lot of putts, to see how the ball reacts,” McCarthy said.

The 24-year-old from Syracuse will play in his first U.S. Open today. He tees off at
9:12 a.m. Pacific Time (that’s 12:12 p.m. here) from No. 10 with playing partners Travis Hampshire and Joseph Bramlett. On Friday, his group is the last of the afternoon to be ushered onto the golf course at 2:42 PT.

McCarthy, 24, expects to arrive at the golf course this morning at 7:30 to avoid heavy traffic and prepare for his round. He plans to “loosen up,” then hit a few balls at the practice range. By now, he said, any swing changes or other alterations have been completed. He is satisfied that he’s made ample preparations for the tournament.

He’s played 45 holes of golf at Pebble, more than he usually would in anticipation of an event. And he’s trying to feel as if he belongs with the golf stars who orbit the clubhouse, the locker room and the practice areas around him.

McCarthy’s assigned locker is situated three spots away from Phil Mickelson and sits a couple stalls down from Rory McIlroy. (It’s done alphabetically.)

On Wednesday, he hit balls on the practice range next to Ernie Els. McCarthy has long admired the smooth, effortless swings of Els, Retief Goosen and Davis Love, III. The sight of Els in such close proximity, he said, prompted him to occasionally glance up from his own preparation to watch Els in motion.

Mickelson and his group played in front of McCarthy on Tuesday. Tiger Woods and his playing partners were a couple groups ahead that day.

“It’s so cool to be among these guys in that this is what I ultimately want to do,” McCarthy said. “It sort of says that I belong out here.”

The lone golf presence to elude him thus far is Tom Watson. McCarthy’s caddie, Joey Tesori, talked with Watson this week, but McCarthy has yet to encounter Watson anywhere on the golf grounds.

“He’s the only one that I haven’t seen that I wanted to see,” McCarthy said. “I rooted for him at the British Open. I just want to see him and see how he goes about his business.”

The Open attracts throngs of golf fans, which have grown in number and intensity as the week progressed. McCarthy’s noticed more media, more commotion than when he first landed at Pebble on Sunday. A hum of anticipation hung over the golf course on
Wednesday.

Golf vendors have offered him a vast array of free products. McCarthy said his haul includes new shoes, an assortment of hats, some updated versions of clubs. “Some stuff I’ve turned down,” he said, “others I’ve accepted.” The U.S. Open gift packages include a couple bottles of wine.

Earlier this week, McCarthy took in the scenic 17-mile drive (“Absolutely gorgeous”) down coastal Monterey. But he’s spent most of his time at the golf course.

“Really, all I’ve done is try to relax and do a lot of work on my short game,” he said. “It’s going to be absolutely crucial out here.”

He expects to be nervous this morning, when he is introduced to the crowd and thrusts his tee into Pebble earth.

“The best advice I’ve gotten so far,” he said, “is to get comfortable with being uncomfortable.”